“On behalf of all Pennsylvania, Midge
and I extend heart-felt sympathy to Catherine’s family,” Governor
Rendell said. “Today we mourn the passing of one of the strongest, most
dedicated public servants in Pennsylvania’s history. Our
thoughts and prayers are with Catherine’s family. She will be deeply
missed.

“Even as she fought cancer in recent months, she remained upbeat
and dedicated to serving the commonwealth,” he said. “Catherine was a very passionate and exuberant
advocate for many worthy causes. Her passing is a tremendous loss for the many
people whose lives she touched.”

Knoll died Wednesday at approximately 6
p.m. at National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington, D.C., where she was
recovering from treatment for neuroendocrine cancer. She was surrounded by
her family.

Under the Pennsylvania Constitution, Knoll
will be replaced as Lieutenant Governor by the Senate President Pro Tempore, Joseph B. Scarnati III (R-Jefferson).

As lieutenant governor, Knoll played a
vital role in addressing a variety of issues of critical importance to the
people of Pennsylvania. She was particularly proud of her accomplishment of
creating of TAP 529 Pennsylvania Tuition Account Program, which has since been
renamed ‘nowU.’ She was also instrumental in issues including emergency management, domestic
preparedness, economic development and local government. She served as the
president of the Senate and chairwoman of the Board of Pardons, the
Pennsylvania Emergency Management Council, and the Local Government Advisory
Committee.

Knoll was sworn in on Jan. 21, 2003, as Pennsylvania’s 30th lieutenant governor;
the first woman elected to the post.

A native of Allegheny County, Knoll, 78,
devoted her life to public service, first as a school teacher and business
woman and later advancing issues such as finance, transportation, housing,
education, environmental work, human rights, small business development, and
urban and rural revitalization efforts.

She contributed to her community through
her longstanding service to the Pennsylvania Federation of Democratic Women, Federal
Home Loan Bank Board of Pittsburgh, YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs, Angel’s
Place, the NAACP, Elder Care, Inc., Pennsylvania Nature Conservancy and the
Pittsburgh Golden Triangle.

Knoll spearheaded a
number of initiatives to promote safety and prosperity for Pennsylvanians of
all ages.

She was a strong
supporter of Project ChildSafe, which reminded gun owners to properly store
firearms in the home to prevent a loaded firearm from falling into the hands of
a child. Project ChildSafe distributed millions of free safety kits including cable-style
gun locking devices and safety education materials at major public events.

Knoll was a strong
advocate for Dress for Success South Central PA which helps disadvantaged women
enter the workforce in the South Central Pennsylvania Region.

She was an active member
of the NLGA (National Lieutenant Governors Association), working on substantive
policy issues and international missions - work that is an accurate
reflection of the growing role of the office of lieutenant governor. Knoll
worked with other members on items ranging from education reform and
international trade to health care and federalism issues. She spearheaded
Pennsylvania’s participation as one of 10 states involved in NLGA’s
education campaign regarding cervical cancer, beginning in August of 2006
— “Ending Cervical Cancer in our Lifetime.”

She also helped foster
collaboration among academia, industry, government agencies and technical support
organizations promote the Strengthening the Mid-Atlantic Region for Tomorrow,
or SMART, regional alliance with Maryland, New Jersey and
Delaware. SMART promotes the Mid-Atlantic region’s technical enterprise
and intellectual vitality for the economic benefit of the region.

Knoll served eight
distinguished years as State Treasurer. During her tenure, she implemented and
maintained the highest standards of accountability and integrity. She also kept
Pennsylvania ahead of the technology curve by building a high-tech investment
center that saved Pennsylvania hundred of millions of dollars through increased
efficiency and returned nearly $2 billion in interest.

Honored by organizations throughout the nation for her leadership, she
accumulated a long list of firsts, among them: First woman appointed to the AFL-CIO
Housing and Building Board of Trustees, Chairwoman of the Pension Committee of
the National Association of State Treasurers, and various small business loan
programs for women and minorities.

As Lieutenant Governor
she received additional accolades in the past five years from the Greater
Washington County Food Bank, Honorary Board Member, Friend of PA Harness Racing
Commission, PA Prison Society Humanitarian of The Year Award, promoting a
strategic alliance with DE, MD, NJ, and PA, YWCA Greater
Pittsburgh Women of the Year Award, Chapel of the Four Chaplains Gold Medal
Award, Circle of Excellence First Women Elected to The Office of The Lieutenant
Governor, Philadelphia AIDS Consortium, State Library Rare Book Room
Outstanding Support.

Knoll’s late
husband, Charles, was a U.S. Postmaster. Their four children, Charles, Mina,
Albert, and Kim Eric, are all adult professionals in their own right.

Knoll was the daughter of
Nicholas and Teresa Baker. She was educated at Saint Mary’s High School
in McKees Rocks, Duquesne University, Harvard’s Kennedy School of
Government, and the Wharton School of Business at the University of
Pennsylvania.